Chapter 3

❗ CHILD-SAFE DISCLAIMER ❗

‎> This work contains mature themes intended for adult audiences only (18+). Reader discretion is strongly advised. All characters are fictional and depicted as being of legal age. Any resemblance to real persons, living or deceased, is coincidental. This story is created for fictional entertainment purposes only.

The silence in the apartment had grown heavy and suffocating, like a thick curtain that blocked out even the usual sounds of the city outside.

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‎Alexander sat at a small wooden table, spread with photographs, handwritten notes, and a calendar marked with bold red circles. He couldn’t remember when the quiet had started to feel threatening, but it had deepened along with the empty spaces in his life.

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‎First there was Sarah—full of laughter, always sketching, and smelling of paint and flowers. Then Leo, a musician whose hands were always moving. Last came Julian, with a voice that felt calm and reassuring. All of them had brought brightness and warmth into Alexander’s world, and all of them had vanished just as suddenly. No goodbye messages, no calls, no trace—only a quiet, empty space where they used to be.

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‎Alexander stared at a photo of Leo\, his face lit up with joy. Beside it lay a note he had written days before: *Matthew met Leo on Tuesday. By Friday\, he stopped answering.*

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‎Looking at the other dates, he saw a clear, disturbing pattern. Every person who had gotten close to him—every friend, every companion, anyone who let him see a life beyond Matthew’s influence—had disappeared one by one.

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‎The front door clicked open. The sound rang through the hall like a sharp warning. Alexander froze, his heart pounding hard in his chest. He made no move to hide his notes; he was too tired to be afraid anymore.

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‎“Alex? My dear, I’m home.”

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‎Matthew’s voice was smooth and calm. He walked in with a deliberate, practiced grace, carrying a bag that smelled of fresh bread and butter. He stopped just a few steps from the table and glanced down at the scattered photos and marked dates. He showed no shock, no surprise. He simply set the bag down and gave a slow, thin smile that never reached his eyes.

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‎“You’ve been thinking a lot,” Matthew said.

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‎Alexander’s voice came out rough and strained. “Where are they, Matthew?”

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‎Matthew tilted his head, feigning confusion. “I’m sorry—who are you talking about?”

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‎“Stop pretending!” Alexander raised his voice, rising so quickly his chair scraped loudly against the floor. “Sarah, Leo, Julian—all of them! People don’t just disappear without a trace. Not three times, and not every time I find someone who makes me feel happy.”

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‎Matthew sighed, sounding truly disappointed. He stepped closer, and the scent of his cologne wrapped around Alexander—once it felt like comfort, now it felt like a warning.

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‎“Happy?” Matthew repeated, as if the word left a bad taste. “You thought they made you happy? Sarah was restless; she would have left you sooner or later. Leo only wanted someone to support his work. And Julian… he had nothing real to offer you.”

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‎“They cared about me!” Alexander shouted, his voice breaking. “Or they were trying to. Why did they leave? What did you do?”

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‎Matthew’s expression shifted. The gentle mask didn’t just slip—it faded away, revealing something far more intense and controlling beneath. He reached out, brushing Alexander’s cheek lightly at first, then held his face firmly, forcing him to look straight into his eyes.

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‎“I protected you,” Matthew whispered.

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‎Alexander trembled, cold dread running down his spine. “Protected me from what?”

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‎“From everything that pulls you away,” Matthew answered, his voice lowering into a deep, possessive tone. “From distractions, from people who only take from you and leave you empty. You are too special, Alex. You keep letting others drain your energy and your light. I couldn’t just stand by and watch you waste yourself on people who don’t deserve you.”

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